Studies on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash Blended Self-Compacting Concrete Mixes

Abstract

Several industrial by-products are used as alternative supplementary cementitious materials in concrete. Sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) is one industrial by-product which is mainly composed of amorphous silica and hence can be used as a pozzolanic admixture in concrete. In the present study, an attempt has been made to produce self-compacting concrete mixes, using sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) as a cementitious admixture. The study investigates the fresh properties of such as slump flow, V-funnel and L-box of these self-compacting concrete mixes along with their hardened properties such as compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and water absorption values. SCBA-based SCC mixes were produced with varying cement content in the range of 450–500 kg/m³ (increment of 25 kg/m³), along with different levels of replacements of cement with SCBA (in the range of 10–40%). A constant w/b ratio of 0.45 was adopted in all the varied mixes. Results indicate satisfactory rheological properties for the mixes (slump flow greater than 650 mm), with their water absorption values in the range of (3–4.5%).